Adding a leo?

[chantelpowell5698]

I've had my leo Raptor since early December 2012. I recently found out that what I thought, and was told, was a male is actually a female. She's really calm, and loves to be held and everything you'd expect. I've never had any issues with her at all. One of the girls I work with also has one, and I agreed to watch it while she went to basic training, she was planning on going to the National Guard. Last night she asked me if I would keep her leo permanently because she got accepted into the Air Force. I don't know if hers is male or female, she says she THINKS hers is a female too. I just bought my leo a HUGE exo terra tank, so I know there will be room enough for the two of them. My question is how do I introduce the new leo into the mix. I saw some videos with not so good outcomes, and it's made me a nervous wreck. There is also a decent size difference between the two. Mine is about 6-8 months old and she was told hers is about 3-4. Will that cause any issues?

Any and all help is appreciated.
Chantel

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Leos of different sizes should never be housed together. No exceptions. One will always bully the other. It might not be obvious with fighting and wounds, but there will be dominating behaviour that can lead to some equally serious problems. Also, leos of uncertain genders should never be housed together.

~Maggot

 

[chantelpowell5698]

What if I keep them separate until the other one gets older, and I know for sure what if it is male or female?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

You could try putting them together once they're both adults and you're sure they're both female, but keep in mind that could still result in serious problems. It's not horribly uncommon for females to not get along either. Honestly, I wouldn't even house them together. They will do better and be happier on their own, plus you don't have to worry about bullying, fighting, or one getting more food than the other.

~Maggot

 

[chantelpowell5698]

Okay. I'll have to find a place to set up another tank. I figured it'd be easier to keep them together, and that they'd keep each other company. But I can't handle fighting and possible injuries, I'm not a good gore or blood person.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

The vast majority of reptiles (with a few rare exceptions) don't like "company." They're not communal creatures and will do better housed alone. It's just a better way overall IMO.

~Maggot

 

[chantelpowell5698]

Okay. I'll keep them seperate then.

 

[katie_]

I agree with EC.

You would need to quarantine the two for at least 90 days, and longer if theyre different sizes.
Once they reach roughly the same size, if ever, you can then slowly introduce them. Youre better off keeping them seperate in the long run if you can.
Its less stressful for them, safer and easier for you to monitor them when they have their own tanks.

 

[chantelpowell5698]

Okay. That seems to be the general consensus I'm getting on this topic. I planned on keeping them separate until I noticed that everyone I know, and all the stores keep theirs together, and I wondered if it was plausible. The guy at our local reptile store was just like "yeah go for it! theyll be fine!" But then he also turned around and told me that for two i need the humidity in the tank at 80% so I went with he has no idea what the hell he's talking about.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Okay. That seems to be the general consensus I'm getting on this topic. I planned on keeping them separate until I noticed that everyone I know, and all the stores keep theirs together, and I wondered if it was plausible. The guy at our local reptile store was just like "yeah go for it! theyll be fine!" But then he also turned around and told me that for two i need the humidity in the tank at 80% so I went with he has no idea what the hell he's talking about.

LOLWUT. You'll notice that's a recurring theme with pet store people - they generally know nothing about anything. I always tell people to ignore every single thing anyone from a pet store tells them because the chances of getting bad information are astronomically higher than getting any good info.

~Maggot

 

[chantelpowell5698]

Yeah. this is the same pet store that my friend and her husband went to get supplies for their bearded dragon and saw a tank with 17 bearded babies together in a tiny tank!! when they pointed out ones foot was cut open and there was blood and one was being aggressive they said oh theyre just playing they do it all the time. and then said theyd quit when they were tired.

 

[pandyana]

I must be a lucky one because I have two of my females housed together and they are actually inseparable. They both have different hides as I have the UTH in the middle of the tank instead of on either side so they can separate themselves but most of the time I see them cuddled up next to each other. They even take turns at the food dish lol. One will take a worm then the other will take one and so on until they are all gone. I had a separator in the middle of the tank when I first introduced them to each other.

My oldest one was a bit dominant at first but after awhile of being separated and getting used to each other I took the separation grid out and they are getting along fine. I don't know if it's because I have their hides on different sides of the tank though. They are usually in the humid hide together snuggled up.

Our Lizard friends lol | Facebook

There's a link to my photo album of my geckos. The girls are cuddled in the humid hide in pic 30